New owners of the West Kelowna Warriors look ahead, not back

Photo: Wayne Moore

Chris Laurie (l) and John Murphy

New owners of the West Kelowna Warriors say they'll have to earn the trust of the community all over again as they look to brighter days ahead.

Majority owner John Murphy and new team president Chris Laurie spoke to the media for the first time since Murphy and Kelowna resident Rod Hume officially took over ownership of the team over the weekend.

Murphy says the new group prefers to look ahead, not back but acknowledges there will be some challenges.

"I think we need to raise the level of professionalism of how the organization is run," said Murphy, who added hiring Laurie who has successfully run franchises in the U.S. was a logical first step in that process.

"We can learn from the past, but we have to look forward. It's about building relationships, and that's what we're going to do."

One of the big challenges facing the new group will be to get fans and corporate sponsors back in the building.

According to hockeydb.com, the Warriors are 15th in the 17-team BCHL in attendance, average 589 fans per game over their first 10 home dates.

However, since the initial ownership change was announced nearly a month ago, the average for the following three games jumped to 700.

"We have to earn their patronage and we have to earn their loyalty," said Laurie.

"We have to put a competitive product on the ice and give them good entertainment value for their dollar."

He adds the group looks at this as an opportunity and a clean slate to built on.

"If we have one ask of the community, that gives us a clean slate as well.

"We are going to do everything we can to do this the right way, and bring back a championship calibre team on the ice. We're not going to win every game, but we want a competitive group out there, and that's where it starts."

Laurie said he's excited to get started and implement a number of off-ice and marketing ideas.

One of those is 'hockey happy hour,' where beer, cider and wine are two-for-one for the hour leading up to the national anthem.

As for the future of the team in West Kelowna, Murphy says his group has no intention of going anywhere.

"I think West Kelowna deserves, and can support a junior hockey franchise. We want to grow a fan base, and we're going to earn it every day.

"It's our complete intention to be here. We have a long-term plan, we have the resources to invest in the business.

"I think that's one thing that hasn't been done in the past."